National Seminar on "Social Work Practice in Health Care: Challenges and Innovations"

To commemorate World Social Work Day a One day National Seminar on “Social Work Practice in Health Care: Challenges and Innovations” organized jointly by Association of Medical Social Workers (Regd.) PGI Chandigarh and All India Association of Medical Social Work professionals, New Delhi in Auditorium, Advanced Eye Centre, PGI Chandigarh.The Seminar was inaugurated by Honourable Justice Sh. Jitendra Chauhan, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh. He lauded role of professional Social worker in this field and appreciated efforts by both associations coming together for the cause.

 In the keynote address to participants, President of All India Association of Medical Social Work professionals, New Delhi not only highlighted that such an endeavor by both associations coming together in one platform help the cause of serving the people in need better but also make a concentrated efforts to bring Medical Social workers at par with other health professionals in the field of heath care as far as status and recognition is concerned. Among the prominent participants from the field were Dr. R.R. Singh, Former Director, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, Dr K.K. Singh , Joint Director and Social Work faculties of Kurukshetra University, Institute of Behaviour Sciences, New Delhi, AIIMS, New Delhi and PGI. Youngl social work professionals were present in vast majority. The best paper award was conferred to Dr SK Upadhay on the topic of Prevalence of Anaemia and Customs Regarding Food intake among Antental Mothers in Rural Society of Haryana.  Mr Bal Raj has also described about the social work facilities provided in PGI has been elaborated and the case of rare surgery of neck and pain which was performed by Department of Anaesthesia, PGIMER lagging behind due to financial constraints.  Mr A K Jain, Chairperson of Organizing Committee welcomed all the delegates all over India.

 More than 100 participants from all over India participated in the scientific deliberations covering wide range of topics from  issue of emerging trends in Social Work practice in area of health care, training and practice, teaching and training, social work practice- prospects , challenges and future direction  in hospital setting, role in the area of preventive and social medicine,  intervention  in child care, primary health care setting and wide range of specialized areas and medical conditions where medical social workers can play important role. Seminar participants also pledged together to see that they will not only work together against cause of human suffering but also find a legitimate place of honour and dignity within  health profession of which they are integral part.   

 The biennial election of All India Association of Medical Social Work professionals also held.  Mr O P Giri, Medical Social Work, PGIMER was elected as General Secretary unanimously.